Meulens possible successor to Bochy?

I’ve long thought Hensley Meulens would be a fabulous Yankees manager.

Good communicator, good presence, good teacher, good personality, learned plenty from Bruce Bochy, succeeded as World Baseball Classic manager, managed winter ball in Venezuela, former Yankees outfielder, speaks as many languages as there are boroughs in New York.

Joe Girardi might or might not be back in the Bronx. His contract is up, and somehow it’s not a done deal despite the Yankees falling a mere one win from the World Series. The Yankees or Girardi could pull the plug, but no one’s suggesting Meulens would be the successor.

Here’s another idea: Groom Meulens as the Giants’ next manager.

Bochy has two years left on his contract, and the next step would be the Hall of Fame. He deserves to go out on his terms, but the Giants need to be ready when that day comes.

From what we know about the coaching shakeup, it’s not over. USA Today reported bench coach Ron Wotus (who also deserves a shot at managing) will move to third base to replace fired Phil Nevin, and if that’s the case, the Giants need to go no further than Meulens, 50, to fill the bench job until Bochy steps down.

A promotion from hitting coach to bench coach would give Meulens more decisionmaking opportunities and the Giants time to analyze him in the elevated role.

Meulens became hitting coach in 2010 when the Giants began winning three straight even-year World Series championships and recently interviewed for the Detroit manager’s job that went to Ron Gardenhire.

General manager Bobby Evans said he has interviewed hitting-coach candidates — assistant hitting coach Steve Decker was reassigned along with pitching coach Dave Righetti and bullpen coach Mark Gardner — and Chili Davis was among those interviewed, the Mercury News reported.

Davis would be considered only for the main hitting job, of course, which confirms Meulens isn’t returning to the same gig. It would make sense for him to continue learning under Bochy and, if all goes well, eventually become manager.

For the Giants, better here than in New York.